Services for Disconnected Lexington Residents, 2006

Browse Search

SERVICES FOR DISCONNECTED LEXINGTON RESIDENTS In the fall of 2004, Michael Novack, then Lexington Coordinator of Social Services, suggested to members of the Lexington Human Services Committee that it might develop a report on the nature and utilization of services to Lexington residents. Committee member Bill Blout suggested that we concentrate on services and unmet needs of "disconnected persons and households," defining this group as consisting of those who cannot meet their needs from their own resources and who lack a network of family or friends who might contribute help significantly and informally Michael Novack provided the Committee with a roster of the service agencies he worked with and the Committee developed a set of questions and divided the task of interviewing agency officials among its members. The first half of the project was devoted to learning about the services provided by agencies within the town of Lexington, and the second half was given to learning about the services located in surrounding communities where Lexington residents were referred for help or sought it on their own. The overall aim of the project was to identify the kinds and adequacy of the services available to disconnected persons and households who live in Lexington, in order to inform the Board of Selectmen and to recommend ways to strengthen the overall system. The first section of the report describes services and operations carried out by in -town agencies, beginning with the Lexington Department of Social Services itself. The second section reports on services located in neighboring communities that are utilized by Lexington residents. And the third section summarizes what we have learned and makes recommendations for improving the system to the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee. 2